The 'Mojito' Shoe by Julian Hakes Has No Foot Plate

Why are there foot plates on shoes? As Julian Hakes’ wraparound shoes—or the ‘Mojito’—suggest, there’s really no need for them.

The wraparound shoes were the product of what the designer discovered when observing foot prints in sand. He saw that the force of movement was primarily through the ball and heel, meaning that the foot plate on shoes is essentially irrelevant. He created these interesting wraparound shoes made of carbon fibre (with rubber for soles and leather on the sides) that wrap and writhe around the foot, supporting the heel and the ball while the foot acts as a bridge between the two.

While they certainly don’t look like your average shoe, they’re interesting to look at—stylish even. I wonder if we’ll be seeing these wraparound shoes on the catwalks next season?